Sarovar Newsletter | December 2018 | Vol Iv

SAROVAR NEWSLETTER | DECEMBER 2018 | VOL IV

SPECIAL ISSUE | WETLANDS FOR A SUSTAINABLE URBAN FUTURE CONTENTS

From the President’s Desk 1

Conserving Urban Wetlands: Imperatives and Challenges 3

Wetlands of National Capital Region 9

Bhubaneswar: Vanishing Wetlands of the Temple City 12

East Kolkata Wetlands: Metro’s Choking Lifeline 13

Sasthamkotta: Kollam’s Lifeline Needs a New Lease of Life 15

Ramsar CoP 13: Report Back from Dubai 20

Tools 23

World Wetlands Day 2019 27

News 29

DISCLAIMER

Sarovar is the newsletter of Wetlands International South Asia

The presentation of material in this newsletter and the geographical designations employed do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever by Wetlands International South Asia, concerning the legal stattus of any country, area or territory or concerning the delimitations of its boundaries or frontiers. The views and opinions expressed in SAROVAR are not necessarily those of Wetlands International South Asia Society (Regd.) or its members. Articles may be reproduced elsewhere acknowledging the source as ‘SAROVAR, The newsletter of Wetlands International South Asia’.

The Editorial Panel welcomes contributions of articles and information. These may be sent to: [email protected] Cover Photograph: Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary, Navi Mumbai Photo Credit: Sugandha Menda Inside Cover Photograph: Tampara Wetland, Odisha Photo Credit: Dushyant Mohil Production & Design Team: Dushyant Mohil, Astha Sharma and Kamal Dalakoti Wetlands International South Asia Wetlands International South Asia Society (Regd.) (WISA) is a Non-Government Organisation with a mission to sustain and restore wetlands, their resources and biodiversity. WISA’s office at New Delhi, India was established in 1996 as part of the Global Network Offices of The Wetlands International (WI) with a mandate to promote Wetland Conservation and wise use in South Asia region. WI is a global Non-Profit Organisation which works on Wetland conservation and restoration through 19 regional offices in over 100 Countries supported by headquarters based in the Netherlands. WI is also one of the 5 International Organisation Partners of the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention). In 2005, WISA was registered as a legal entity under the society’s registration act of Government of India. The strategic direction and policies of WISA are set by a General Body which comprises eminent experts and conservation planners. urban centres. One-third of country’s Gross Domestic Product is generated by just 13% of urban population, living on only 0.2% of land area. Experiences from the FROM THE management of urban wetlands as East Kolkata Wetlands (West Bengal), Bhoj Wetlands (Madhya Pradesh) and Sasthamkotta (Kerala) indicate that ecosystem services PRESIDENT’S and biodiversity values derived from urban wetlands can improve environmental sustainability in urban spaces. The East Kolkata Wetlands are used to treat the entire DESK city’s sewage, and through an age-old practice of resource recovery, also used to produce over 15,000 MT of fish and 12,000 MT of vegetables annually. Several cities such as It gives me a great pleasure to place the fourth volume of Bhopal and Kollam derives their principal water supply our newsletter ‘Sarovar’ in your hands. from wetlands. Recreational values linked with wetlands can be a significant source of revenue as can be seen in the This volume focuses on urban wetlands based on the 2018 backwaters of Kerala. World Wetlands Day theme ‘Wetlands for a sustainable urban future’. Healthy and biologically rich wetlands make It is disheartening to note that expansion of urban spaces cities and towns livable, through their role in groundwater has created significant infrastructural, socio-spatial and recharge, buffering floods, filtering wastewater, enhancing ecological overloads, particularly on wetland ecosystems. landscape aesthetics, providing income generation The development of major urban centres, as Bengaluru, opportunities and ultimately supporting overall human Delhi. Kolkata, Chennai, and Hyderabad have been welfare. associated with a concomitant decline in wetlands. As wetlands decline in urban spaces, so does the capacity of India is on the course of rapid urbanization. As per the landscape to provide ecosystem services for the people estimates, as many as 377 million people inhabit her 8,000 living around these areas. As more areas are concretized,

River Yamuna Floodplains at Okhla, New Delhi

1 the runoff increases significantly, further making the areas vulnerable. Studies on increasing urban flooding risks in Bangaluru and Chennai have identified wetland encroachment as one of the main causative factors. We hope that the articles and case studies presented in this newsletter trigger a healthy debate amongst the policy- makers, researchers and practitioners on ways and means of integrating conservation and wise use of wetlands within urban planning. Wetlands International South Asia seeks to continue its endeavour to bridge the science, policy and practice divide that limits application of best practices and lessons for the conservation of urban wetlands. We seek your support in delivering our vision and mission. The forthcoming issue of Sarovar will be on the theme ‘wetlands and climate change’. I look forward to receiving Dr Sidharth Kaul | President your contributions to the newsletter on this theme, and suggestions for further improving our work. Happy reading! WISA PHOTO LIBRARY PHOTO WISA

2 CONSERVING URBAN WETLANDS: IMPERATIVES AND CHALLENGES Urban development and wetlands conservation have been at cross-roads. In this article, Dr Sidharth Kaul (President, Wetlands International South Asia) and Dr Ritesh Kumar (Conservation Programme Manager) provide an overview of the status of urban wetlands, restoration measures adopted, challenges and way ahead.

Rapid urbanization forms an integral part of India’s rich history of constructing cascading wetland systems to economic development. Since 1951, the number of town store rainwater. and cities in the country has more than doubled (from Urban wetlands are also significant cultural and three thousand in 1951 to over eight thousand at present), recreational avenues. The backwaters of Kerala are and the urban population increased over six times (from visited by over 0.3 million tourists annually, generating 62 million to 377 million). The urban areas are also the an economy of around 6,000 million Indian Rupees. In engines of growth. The top 100 cities, with just 16% of North India, festivals as Chath, wherein devotees stand in the national population living on measly 0.24% of the wetlands to offer prayers to Sun, is a beautiful expression country’s land area, contribute over 40% of India’s Gross of the cultural connections communities have with water Domestic Product. and wetlands. Healthy wetlands play a crucial role in making cities Yet, as built up spaces within urban areas have increased, and towns livable by helping in groundwater recharge, the wetlands have undergone a drastic decline. Analysis buffering floods, filtering wastewater, regulating of published land use and land cover data from 22 cities microclimate, enhancing landscapes aesthetics, and by Wetlands International South Asia team indicates that providing livelihood opportunities. Countless plants and during 1970 – 2014, every one square kilometre increase animals depend on wetlands for survival and maintenance in built-up area matched up with a loss of 25 ha wetlands. of their germplasm. The 2011 National Wetlands Atlas of The most rapid loss was seen in metros, namely New India estimates the extent of wetlands to be 15.26 million Delhi, Bangaluru, Chennai, Mumbai and Hyderabad. hectares. The atlas does not provide a separate estimate Wetlands have invariably been treated as wastelands. for wetlands located in urban and rural areas. A rapid Several cities have waste dumps located within wetlands assessment done by Wetlands International South Asia – for example, Chennai dumps its wastes in Pallikarnai, indicates that nearly 8% of the total wetland area is likely Kolkata in Dhapa landfill located within East Kolkata to be situated within the urban sprawls. The states of Wetlands, New Delhi in the area adjoining Bhalsawa and Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Guwahati in a waste dump located on the shore of Deepor Pradesh and Telangana account for over half of the total Beel. With not more than one-fifth of country’s municipal urban wetland area. solid waste treated, wetlands have become the ultimate Wetlands, through their wide-ranging ecosystem services waste receptacles. Several of the wetlands are so degraded and biodiversity, have since time immemorial served that their restoration is nearly impossible. as urban areas’ natural infrastructure. Cities as Bhopal (through Bhoj Wetlands in Madhya Pradesh), Kollam (through Sasthamkotta in Kerala), and New Delhi (through Loss of wetlands increases the River Yamuna floodplains) are critically dependent on vulnerability of urban areas wetlands to meet their water supply requirements. The Urban areas tend to alter hydrological regimes in diverse City of Kolkata filters its wastes through the maze of fish ways. As built up surface increase, the runoff also ponds located on its eastern periphery, transforming increases. As the population becomes more concentrated, sewage’s nutrients into fish and vegetables, and in that the demand for water, and the generation of wastewater process generating livelihoods of nearly 20,000 peri-urban also increases exponentially. This obviates the need for poor. In arid regions and the Deccan peninsula, there is a wetlands within urban landscapes, so as to provide a natural buffer for storing runoff, recharging groundwater, short of water, the role of wetlands as groundwater treating wastewater, and regulating microclimate. recharge becomes critical. With declining wetlands, the Wetlands also dampen the heat island effect created in cities have increasingly become parched, dependent on several urban spaces due to modification of land surfaces. water imported from elsewhere and providing ground for As wetlands are lost, so are these vital functions, exposing water-tanker economies and intense water conflict zones. the urban areas to multiple hazards. Bangaluru City is a case in point. Situated atop Deccan Plateau, the city derived its principal source of water The intensity and severity of urban floods are on the rise. supply from an intricate network of over thousand tanks. With climate change, rainfall is becoming more intense, However, the ever-expanding City devoured and polluted concentrated over short spells, and generating high runoff. its tanks, and in 2011, only about two hundred and fifty As floodwater tends to accumulate in low lying areas as remained. Several of these are so polluted that they froth wetlands, infrastructure created on encroached wetland and burn for days together. The feeder channels bringing area and feeder channels become exposed to flooding in water to the tanks have been infringed upon and risks. Reduced floodwater accommodating capacity leads choked. The City thus is forced to source much of its water to larger areas being impacted. This has been evidenced in from upstream Cauvery River. A fleet of water tankers, several cases, such as Kashmir Deluge of September 2014, often operating illegally criss-crosses the city charging Chennai floods of November-December 2015, and more exorbitant prices from the residents. recently in the Kerala floods of August 2018. Wular, downstream of Srinagar is the City’s key flood Limited public policy response buffer. Rampant conversion of wetlands for expansion of Within the federal set-up, the Ministry of Environment, agriculture, settlements and plantation of willows has led Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) is the nodal to shrinkage of wetlands by over one-fifth since the 1950s. organization in the country for issues related to wetlands. Wetlands lying between Srinagar and Wular, Batmaloo- With India becoming a party to the Ramsar Convention nambal, Rakh-i-art, Rakh-i-Gandkash and others have in 1982, and MoEFCC (the then MoEF) being established all been built upon. Thus when the city was lashed with in 1985, a national programming framework for wetlands heavy rains in September 2014, in the absence of these was institutionalized. MoEFCC established the National crucial buffers, floods wreaked havoc killing over 500 Wetland Conservation Plan (NWCP) in 1986 to provide people, injuring over 22,000 and damaging as many as an overarching national policy framework and financial 0.12 million houses. The Pallikarnai marsh, situated in assistance to the state governments for the implementation the heart of Chennai City has shrunk extensively owing of site management plans. In 2001, the National Lake to ever-expanding real estate and industrial development. Conservation Programme (NLCP) was introduced to The lack of wetlands buffer was identified as a significant address pollution issues in urban and peri-urban water causative factor for the extensive damage during the floods bodies through interception, diversion and treatment of of November – December 2015. In August 2018, when pollution load. Besides these two schemes, funding for the southern state of Kerala faced unprecedented floods, wetlands located within protected area are supported including a sudden release of water from Idukki reservoir, under the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats the lowland areas wherein wetlands had been most rapidly scheme, whereas the programme on Mangroves and converted, suffered maximum damage. Unfortunately, Coral Reefs support conservation of coastal wetlands. As reconstruction efforts post-floods have not considered of December 2018, the network of sites of national and restoration of wetlands and its feeder channels as a international significance included 250 wetlands. India response. has also designated 26 wetlands as Ramsar Sites, of which as many as eight are located within urban and peri-urban Groundwater accounts for over half of Indian urban spaces. water use. As the cities become increasingly dry and

Willow plantations inside Wular (Jammu & Kashmir) reduced capacity of the wetland to buffer floods WISA PHOTO LIBRARY PHOTO WISA

4 Besides the MoEFCC, funding support to wetlands is also other names further confounds management and promotes provided under programmes of several other ministries. sectoral pursuits. Even being a signatory of the Ramsar Since the tenth plan period, the Ministry of Water Convention which uses a broader definition of wetlands Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, encompassing a range of natural and human-made under its scheme entitled Repair, Rejuvenation and ecosystems, there is widespread usage of different terms, Restoration of Waterbodies, support State Governments guidelines, and funding arrangements for wetlands within in enhancing water holding capacity of these waterbodies. various central government ministries. Lack of consistency The Smart Cities Mission of the Ministry of Housing in national programming imposes a significant limitation and Urban Affairs includes conservation of wetlands on the adoption of integrated and holistic approaches for within its programming ambit, as part of urban wetlands management. sustainability measures. The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare support programmes on inland and coastal fisheries as a part of food security programmes. Urban wetlands fast becoming When compared with the mandate of MoEFCC funded contested spaces programmes, other ministries take into account a subset of wetland benefits and are essentially sectoral in nature. The Government of India and the state governments have enacted a number of laws and regulations to The cumulative expenditure on wetlands conservation protect wetlands. The most recent of these is Wetlands in the last four decades may not have exceeded two and (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 under the half thousand crores, a meagre sum when compared with Environment Protection Act, 1986. The rules constitute demand. A few large wetlands, notably Loktak (Manipur), wetlands authorities within states and union territories Bhoj (Madhya Pradesh), Dal and Wular (Jammu and as a nodal institution for policy, programming and Kashmir) have cornered a significant share of this sum. regulation of wetlands. The Coastal Regulation Zone Implementation of restoration measures has been of Notification issued under the same act also contains limited success due to various reasons, notably lack provisions for protecting coastal wetlands. Numerous of integrated management planning to guide actions, central government acts such as The Indian Fisheries Act, funding to disconnected annual action plans, focus on 1987; The Indian Forest Act, 1927; The Indian Wildlife symptoms rather than root causes of degradation, sectoral (Protection) Act, 1972; The Water (Prevention and Control approaches, and limited science-management interface. of Pollution) Act, 1974; The Forest Conservation Act, 1980: The Biological Diversity Act, 2002; and The Coastal Aquaculture Authority Act, 2005 have provisions to The usage of different terms and connotations for wetlands restrict activities detrimental to wetlands. Several states such as lake, lagoon, estuary, impounded area and several have also enacted their rules and regulations on wetlands.

Rampant encroachment of Pallikarnai Marsh has rendered Chennai (Tamil Nadu) city vulnerable to floods 5 Despite these, wetlands, especially urban wetlands, and the subsequent amendments are yet to be implemented continue to be encroached upon, polluted, and converted in letter and spirit. Within land records, wetlands are for alternate usages. often categorized under wastelands, and thus their An analysis of cases pertaining to wetlands in National conversion for developmental benefits becomes a natural Green Tribunal since 2010 indicated that of the 33 cases, policy response. This loophole has been widely exploited 25 related to urban wetlands. Commercial construction to reclaim wetlands and convert them for housing or other activities (14 cases), illegal dumping of waste (11 cases) infrastructure development projects. and residential construction (8 cases) were the most rampant violations. There is a valid concern whether Sectoral approaches states, which have been entrusted to play a significant Wetlands are often managed with singular sectoral role as per the 2017 Wetlands Rules, would be able to approaches – such as for recreation and amenity values, make informed decisions for wetlands in the face of fisheries, and water storage. This prevents incorporation local political and development pressures. In several of their full range of ecosystem services and biodiversity cases, even courts have favoured developmental activities values and connectivity within the landscape scale over maintenance of wetlands, mainly in the absence of management interventions. The complex drivers of systematic evidence base and understanding of wetlands wetlands degradation cannot be addressed by piece-meal functions. sectoral approaches.

Major challenges Limited capacities for integrated management Continued degradation of wetlands, particularly urban The responsibility of conserving wetlands is often spread wetlands underline ineffectiveness of existing measures through multiple departments, such as environment and and need to ramp up efforts across multiple sectors forests, urban development, revenue, fisheries, and water and involving multitude of stakeholders. Some of the resources. In several smart cities projects, the management significant challenges faced in conservation of urban of wetlands located within the boundaries of the city is wetlands are: placed with the concerned urban local body. Located at Weak regulation interface of land and water, wetlands require specialized management approaches, which are not addressed by Despite nearly over a decade of notification of a national sectoral pursuits of the government departments. Limited regulatory framework, wetlands are yet to be accorded capacities within these departments makes design and protection and regulation from developmental actions. The implementation of integrated strategies and management Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 plans an uphill task. WISA PHOTO LIBRARY PHOTO WISA

6 Focus on hard-infrastructure solutions wetland of Bucharest, Romania’s largest and most densely The dominant urban planning approaches in India so populated city, provides a green lung to the built-up city far have been infrastructure oriented, enabling tapping surrounding the site. Located on the edge of Vientiane, upstream sources for meeting water needs and sending the That Luang Marsh, spanning 2000-hectare is being waste and run-off to downstream reaches in the shortest preserved and managed as a buffer against flooding and a possible time. The limitations of such approaches are provider of livelihoods to communities living around. evident in cities being parched, exposed to floods and In Banten Bay area of Jakarta, a consortium of droughts, and increasingly water insecure. Management environmental organisations, including Wetlands of wetlands located within the boundary of urban areas is International, and engineering firms are using wetlands as often missed out within these approaches. natural infrastructure solutions to prevent coastal erosion. The Room for the River Programme of the Netherlands Limited consideration of impact of urban development and Germany is an ambitious river restoration programme, on wetlands. which includes rejuvenating floodplains and creation of Urban spaces have far large footprints than is commonly additional wetland habitats to buffer the urban areas from thought and perceived. The water and food security flooding and risk of a dyke collapse. There are several needs of an urban area are often met by altering wetlands other cases from around the globe which indicate the within far upstream and downstream stretches. Urban ways in which wetlands conservation could be weaved in development projects often fail to consider the overall into urban planning, contributing to twin objectives of impact on wetlands, and recommend appropriate redressal conservation as well as sustainable urbanization. measures. To promote conservation of wetlands within urban planning processes, the Ramsar Convention, in 2015, Lessons from other cities launched the Wetlands City accreditation scheme to Worldwide there are increasing trends of urban encourage cities that are close to and dependent on agglomerations integrating wetlands restoration within wetlands, especially Ramsar Sites, to highlight and urban planning. The Sponge Cities model, adopted in promote a positive relationship with these valuable several Chinese cities as Shanghai have replaced cemented ecosystems. In the 13th Conference of Parties meeting of pavements with wetlands, as an ecologically friendly the Convention held at Dubai in 2018, eighteen cities from alternative to traditional flood defences and drainage seven countries – China, France, Hungary, Madagascar, systems for the coastal city facing risks from rising sea South Korea, Sri Lanka and Tunisia – received the levels. The Văcărești Nature Park, a 183-hectare urban prestigious accreditation. RAVI SHEKHAR RAVI 7 Wetlands such as Monekulala (Bengaluru, Karnataka) enhance landscape aesthetics Integrating wetlands within urban planning Ways ahead The Ramsar Convention, in its Resolution XI.11 has The future of urban wetlands is closely linked to the adopted principles for planning and management extent to which these ecosystems are integrated within the of urban and peri-urban wetlands. The resolutions urban developmental planning processes. Wetlands need recommend: a) thematic planning should be used as an to be recognized as natural infrastructure solutions for essential tool to safeguard wetlands and their ecosystem urban development. The following are some of the ways in services both within and beyond urban settlements; b) which conservation and wise use of urban wetlands can be the consideration of wetlands within urban planning achieved: needs to be integrated fully with wider elements of spatial planning (such as Integrated River Basin Management, Inventorying wetlands and including within land use water resource management, the development of transport records infrastructure, agriculture production, fuel supply, etc.), The National Wetlands Atlas produced using data of and c) Alternative locations need to be identified for 2006-07 is already a decade old. Given the rapid changes planned urban developments (both formal and informal in wetlands, it is pertinent that all wetlands, including built development) which do not lead to wetlands, or other those located within urban and peri-urban boundaries, natural ecosystems, being degraded or lost. Developing are inventorized, along with information on their spatial synergies in implementation of various conventions extent, ownership, current status, and key hydrological and such as Ramsar, Convention on Biological Diversity and ecological characteristics. Such an inventory is crucial to Convention on Migratory Species, can greatly support establish appropriate management baselines. mainstreaming of conservation agenda including wetlands in development planning. It is suggested that Recording wetlands as a separate land use class can environmental appraisal committees at government level be instrumental in thwarting the threats of wetlands should invariably involve wetland experts to gather valid encroachment and conversion. Efforts from the state opinion about the area before the site is granted clearance of Uttar Pradesh, has managed to incorporate wetlands for developmental projects. within the land use records and can be emulated with due consideration of replicability of this method and policy Strengthening wetlands governance frameworks employed. Urban wetlands need to be properly delineated and notified under various regulation, such as Wetlands Conservation of urban wetlands, their catchments and (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017. The State protection of feeder channels Wetlands Authorities need to prioritize conservation of All urban wetlands need to be delineated and managed urban wetlands, using a catchment approach, and securing in an integrated manner, with due consideration of their full range of their ecosystem services and biodiversity ecological, hydrological and socioeconomic features and values within sectoral planning. An effective and factors governing them. A catchment scale management transparent monitoring system needs to be put in place to is required to be put in place, so that land and water use ensure that management plans bring desired improvement decisions take into account the role of wetlands for human in wetlands ecosystem health. welfare. The feeder channels conveying water into the wetlands need to be made free of encroachments. Application-oriented monitoring and research Without sufficient research inputs, no management plan Developing capacity for integrated management of can be successful. Research on functioning of wetlands, wetlands and linkages with landscape changes in catchments Periodic capacity development programmes may be can greatly assist in identifying targeted interventions. conducted for central and state government officials Valuation can help better decision making related to use entrusted with the integrated management of wetlands. and management of natural resources, including wetlands, Comprehensive evaluation of wetlands, and their by making explicit how decision making would affect integration in sectoral development planning may be the ecosystem service values, and expressing these value significant elements of capacity development programmes. changes in units that allow for their incorporation in Hands-on training should be complemented with exposure public decision making. visits and networking support to ensure that built capacity is not dissipated over time. Participatory and adaptive management Urban local bodies, resident welfare committees, civil Addressing water needs of wetlands society and community-based organizations need to be As integral components of hydrological cycle, wetlands meaningfully engaged in management and restoration of are critically important in regulating the quantity, quality urban wetlands. This could be done through sensitization, and reliability of water as it moves in its various forms. behavioural changes, communication, education and Changes and degradation of wetlands particularly in their awareness campaigns, use of citizen science for monitoring structure and functions can lead to significant changes and their involvement in management planning processes. in their flow pattern and chemical and microbiological character of water resources. At the same time, wetlands require sufficient water to maintain the desired level of their ecological health. Given the fact that most of the impacts of climate change in the country would be water- mediated, the role of wetlands in climate change demands urgent attention and integration in the mitigation and adaptation strategies. Environmental flows of all major urban wetlands need to be determined and implemented within the existing water resources planning and decision- 8 making processes. WETLANDS OF NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION Edged out by development

of water, even recharging on their own. The marshes Wetlands - Capital’s blue and lakes of Okhla, Jahangirpuri, Najafgarh, Sultanpur, Bhadkal and Bhindawaas teem with waterbirds during lifeline winters, including several species migrating within the Central Asian Flyway. The economic value of a select set of ecosystem services from the River Yamuna floodplains has T he National Capital Region (NCR), encompassing been assessed to be Rs. 406 million annually. the National Capital Territory of Delhi, and surrounding districts from the neighbouring states of Haryana, The historic city of Delhi, constructed and reconstructed Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, is bestowed with several over a thousand years, carefully managed its wetlands to wetlands in the form of river floodplains, lakes, marshes, ensure that water was available inplenty, and aesthetics barrages, reservoirs, and human-made waterbodies as of the city were maintained. A substantial number of johad, baoli, ponds and stepwells. These ecosystems form natural wetlands in the Yamuna floodplains were formed a significant component of the regions natural capital by the post-monsoon receding of the river in depressions endowment. Barely accounting for 1.86% of NCR’s land (oxbow lakes and meanders scours) some of which were area, these wetlands perform several ecological functions quite large, including horseshoe lake at Bhalaswa and such as groundwater recharge, flood buffering, water Sanjay Lake in the area currently known as Mayur Vihar. purification, providing habitat to a number of plant and The floodplains of River Yamuna were preserved as a animal species, and enhancing landscape aesthetics. The no-development zone. Historically, most of the villages of River Yamuna floodplains, accounting for around 60% Delhi had johad and some villages having at least two to of the wetland regime, are an incredible natural source three.

9 Park and Garden Society were mandated as the nodal Parched, yet no place in officer for the creation of a database on waterbodies of the NCT region. An apex body with the Chief Secretary, development Government of Delhi was constituted to monitor the Unplanned urbanisation and thoughtless development of progress of conservation efforts. A complementing infrastructure have taken a heavy toll on these wetlands. Steering Committee with Secretary (Environment and Since the 1970s, while the built-up area within NCR has Forests) was also formed to intervene as and when expanded 17 folds (from 126 km2 to 2180 km2), wetlands required during the implementation of restoration have been lost at the rate of 220 ha annually. Lakes and programmes. The committee concluded that of the 1,011 marshes along the Mundela drain, Rithala and Bawana waterbodies reported in the NCT region, only 971 could be are no longer to be seen. Jahangirpuri marshes, which traced, 168 had been encroached upon, and 117 had built is reported to have an expanse more than 500 ha in the up areas within these. sixties, has been whittled down to 140 ha, rest having fallen causality to encroachments and conversions. One The widespread loss of wetlands has taken place despite arm of Bhalaswa Lake has been engulfed by the adjacent several policy statements and planning processes landfill site. highlighting the immense value of wetlands. The Master Plan for Delhi (2021) placed Yamuna floodplain in a The River Yamuna floodplains have been thoughtlessly distinct zone, restricting any form of construction in the exploited for social, religious and illegal sand-mining floodplains, and allowing for measures for rejuvenation of and as much as 40% area encroached upon, falling the river. prey to various development projects (including those even supported by Government). With a burgeoning For all other zones, all waterbodies above 1 ha in the area population, increasing water demand and fast shrinking are to be protected, and prevented from any encroachment wetlands regime, the NCR is increasingly becoming or infilling. The Water Policy of Delhi clearly recognizes parched for water. Most of the groundwater blocks (78%) that ‘competitive land hunger would outweigh the benefit are overexploited. River Yamuna in Delhi continues to of wetlands, and target them for reclamation decreasing be one of the most polluted river stretches in the entire storage, recharge and ecological functions’ and thereby country, with literally all flows channelised into pipes, the recommends conservation of wetlands in an integrated flow in the river being mostly inputs from 22 drains! The manner. The Drainage Master Plan of Delhi (Draft, river stretch has several pockets devoid of oxygen and high prepared in 2016 by Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi concentration of biological and chemical contaminants. for Department of Irrigation and Flood Control) indicated a complementing role of wetlands as retention basins for Almost 60% of sewage of Delhi remains untreated, absorbing floodwaters and thereby has recommended finding its way into the Yamuna or its surrounding hydrological connectivity with the storm drainage systems. wetlands. Despite spending nearly Rs. 8.8 billion in the implementation of two phases of the Yamuna Action The State Climate Action Plan (2009-12) identified Plan, the condition of the river and waste management wetlands restoration as a measure to enhance water and facilities in the Delhi remains deplorable. By 2021, the climate security and listed 620 wetlands for rejuvenation. annual water deficit in the capital is projected to increase In a survey of the waterbodies of the capital, only 49 to 9,688 MCM. The footprint of water insecurity looms were listed as being challenging to restore because large on states as far off as Himachal Pradesh, wherein of encroachment and other prevailing conditions. Renuka Dam is being constructed to augment water Continued degradation of wetlands despite the presence supply to Delhi. Disruption of Munak Canal in February of these policy statements is an indicator of significant 2016 is ample evidence of the vulnerability of current implementation gaps, political apathy and capacity water infrastructure, and the need to retrain focus on limitations. It is but natural that wetlands restoration in conservation of wetlands for water security in the national NCR has been subject of various public interest litigations, capital. through actions of civil society organizations such as Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan. Restoration measures for wetlands of Delhi and NCR Too little, too late region are precious few and far between. During 2003- 11, the DDA in collaboration with the Center for Despite wetlands’ immense significance to the urban Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystems environment, precious little has been done to conserve of Delhi University established the 457 acres Yamuna the city’s blue heritage. In parts, the current condition of Biodiversity Park on the Yamuna floodplains near wetlands of Delhi is symptomatic of limited integration Wazirabad. The Natural Heritage Division of the INTACH of wetlands in urban planning. The ownership and has undertaken restoration projects on Delhi waterbodies, responsibility of management of wetlands is spread across notably Hauz Khas Lake, Bhalsawa and Sanjay Lake, only several government departments and agencies, such as the first of which has had some tangible impact. The Hauz environment, forest, irrigation and flood control, public Khas Lake was given a new lease of life by diverting treated works, Delhi Development Authority, Delhi Jal Board, sewage water and has gradually reverted to manage its Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Archeological Survey water regimes. A similar approach has been followed for of India, Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board and the restoration of Neela Hauz and proposed for Badhkal Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Lake in Faridabad. At local scale, initiatives such as the Corporation. Jal Chaupal for the restoration of village ponds of Gautam Budha Nagar are promising community action models The multiple and diffuse ownership creates an immense The Delhi Pollution Control Committee in collaboration challenge in inter-agency coordination and ensuring the with DDA has developed a master plan for restoring a application of systematic approaches. Following a Hon’ble section of Jahangirpuri marshes in the form of Dheerpur Delhi High Court decision, in 2011, the CEO, Delhi Wetland Park; the project, however, is yet to see the light of the day. In 2017, the Department of Irrigation approaches and actions for conserving and managing and Flood Control initiated a detailed topographic and wetlands are reviewed, collaboratively with all concerned hydrographic surveys of all waterbodies in order to lead to stakeholders, and a unified vision developed for ensuring an integrated plan for restoration and revival. that full range of biodiversity and ecosystem service values provided by these wetlands are sustained in the No wetland of NCR has been recommended for inclusion long term. This will require actions at multiple levels. under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Urban planning departments would need to integrate Change’s National Programme for Conservation of wetlands within their development plans so that the Aquatic Ecosystems. Two wetlands of Haryana, Bhindawas consequences of increased built up spaces on wetlands are and Sultanpur have received financial support to the appropriately factored in. Management plans for restoring tune of Rs. 40.16 million for restoration and tangible significant wetlands would need to be designed factoring progress is yet to be achieved. The provisions of in basin-level developmental activities. Enforcement of Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 regulatory frameworks, such as Wetlands (Conservation (and superseded by 2017 notification) have not been and Management) Rules, 2017 is vital in securing wetlands implemented in the region. boundaries from encroachment. An enabling role can be played by civil society, resident welfare associations and community-based organizations in restoring tanks and Way forward ponds. A massive awareness drive is required to sensitize policy makers and residents on the critical role played by In the milieu of several piece-meal actions, sporadic wetlands in making the region water secure and habitable. restoration successes and mounting information base, an integrated strategy for conserving wetlands of Delhi CONTRIBUTED BY: Sugandha Menda (Junior Technical Officer, WISA) and NCR region have remained elusive. As the water and Dushyant Mohil (Project Manager, WISA) crises loom large on the region, it is apt that the current

The municipal corporation of Gurugram has chosen Basai as the site for a waste treatment plant

11 DUSHYANT MOHIL BHUBANESWAR Vanishing wetlands of the Temple City

pollution from point and non-point sources. But in the N o description of an Indian city can be considered as recent times, lakes could not be happily woven into the complete without the wetlands historically associated modern layouts of the Indian cities because of increasing with it, and Bhubaneswar is no exception. Bhubaneswar, pressure on land, high costs of managing a surface the capital of Odisha known as the “Temple City” has waterbody in a clean form when surrounded by urban more than 500 temples mostly confined to the old part sprawls, and apathy of the urban people for ecological of the city. The favorable physical environment created integrity. It has been observed that there has been the by surrounding rivers and streams along with undulating progressive disappearance of wetlands from the city area of topography of Bhubaneswar has facilitated the existence Bhubaneswar, from within the expanding municipal limits of numerous water bodies which are a part of the excellent and from the neighbourhood. This shortsighted approach drainage network. Most of these are associated with has been adversely impacting the drainage system of the temples and have mythology behind creation. Thus, they city. Waterlogging, which was never heard of, has now have become an integral part of the heritage, culture, become a regular feature during monsoon. Bhubaneswar rituals and lifestyle of urban residents of Bhubaneswar. is now known as the hottest city of India which is partly attributed to the rapid loss of wetlands known for their Each temple in this part of the city has one or more water ability to moderate local climate. body within its premises. Some are quite small while others represent huge expanse of freshwater. As regard to their origin, temple ponds are believed to have been created initially as vast depressions made by the removal of enormous amount of soil needed to build earthen ramps that were used for dragging the huge blocks of stone to heights corresponding to the mounting height of the temple under construction. After the completion of the temples, these depressions were shaped and lined with the surplus stone available and were converted into temple tanks for use during daily rituals and festive occasions.

Apart from these a lot of other natural and human-made and natural wetlands form an integral part of the drainage system of Bhubaneswar. Distributaries of Mahanadi River surround Bhubaneswar city and its fringe area from the northern, eastern and southern sides which are intricately linked to its drainage system. The rivers, Kuakhai and Daya, are fourth and third order distributaries of River Mahanadi, respectively. A network of channels and streams, which originate on the west of the city and flow across the city to the east, joins Kuakhai and Daya rivers and drains the city and its fringe area. From Kuakhai some water moves into the Gangua Nala that flows in the eastern side of the Bhubaneswar city through the Mancheswar escape. Wetlands are embedded in this intricate drainage network.

The first master plan of Bhubaneswar City spread over 16.48 km2 was formulated in 1948 for a population of 40,000. The rapidly increasing population pressure, the rapid development of the town as a major centre of trade, commerce, technology and education; is resulting in rapid growth and expansion of the city. In this process of fast growth wetlands have become the soft target. CONTRIBUTED BY: Dr A. K. Pattnaik (Vice President, WISA) The major threats to wetland resources of the town have and Dr Nihar Ranjan Das (M.D. Geoinvotech Pvt. Ltd.) been reclamation, uncontrolled discharge of wastewater, 12 WISA PHOTO LIBRARY PHOTO WISA

EKW forms a part of the extensive inter-distributory wetland regime of EAST KOLKATA the Gangetic Delta, which until last six- decades maintained an active connection WETLANDS with the Sunderbans Delta (thus the name Metro’s choking lifeline Salt Lake). Being at the interface of The East Kolkata Wetlands (EKW), located on the Kolkata City, the wetland is under severe anthropogenic eastern fringes of Kolkata city is an assemblage of stress in the form of land use change, siltation within sewage fed fish ponds spread over an area of 12,500 the aquaculture ponds, and presence of toxic material ha. The wetland complex sustains possibly the world’s in sewage inflow received into wetlands. Ineffective largest and oldest integrated resource recovery practice integration of the full range of ecosystem services and based on a combination of agriculture and aquaculture, biodiversity values of these wetlands within urban and which provides valuable water cleansing service to the peri-urban planning processes has generated value EKW residents of Kolkata City and livelihood support to a brings to the ecological security of the region. large, economically underprivileged population. The uniqueness of East Kolkata Wetlands has been recognised Over the last three decades, several regulatory measures internationally by Ramsar Convention and several global have been put in place to ensure the continued existence platforms as a ‘wetlands wise use practice’. In 2002, EKW of EKW. Mapping of the conservation area boundary for was designated as a Wetland of International Importance the wetland area, including the waste recycling region, was under Ramsar Convention, thus committing the national done in 1985 by the State Planning Board, Government and the state government in securing the wetland’s of West Bengal. Subsequently, the High Court of Kolkata ecological character. passed an order in 1992 prohibiting changes in landuse of the area and directed the state government to take due to discharge of untreated industrial waste into the recourse to legal cover to prevent any encroachment. The wetlands. High Court direction also paved the way for enacting the East Kolkata Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Changing hydrological regimes and land use patterns have Act, 2006, which inter alea provided statutory backing also impacted the biodiversity of the wetlands. Recent to the East Kolkata Wetlands Management Authority estimates of waterbirds species recorded in the area have (EKWMA), and laid down its powers and functions. indicated a decline. The wetland which in early twentieth Notably, the provisions of the West Bengal Town and century teemed with a broad spectrum of brackish water Country (Planning and Development) Act, 1979 and and freshwater water fish, only supports cultivable Fisheries Act, 1984 (amended in 1993) also include freshwater species. banning of conversion and filling up of the wetland site. The sewage fed fisheries, for which the wetland is Several scientific studies on various aspects of the known globally, has been constrained due to inadequate wetland have also been carried out by state government management of water regimes, technology integration departments, research agencies, and others. However, and weak marketing, post-marketing and value these efforts have largely been restricted to academic addition opportunities. Data on fish farms collected exercises and no systematic approach to conservation and by the authority indicate relatively higher sewage sustainable development of these wetlands has emerged. access, productivity and net return to the large farmers as compared to the smaller ones. The current farm The wetland ecosystem faces a grave threat to its ecological management systems report a skewed incentive towards character thereby endangering the overall sustainability the large private farmers, as against the small and of the resource recovery practices which form the base of medium-size cooperatives. existence of the entire Kolkata City, and of the livelihoods of 0.2 million poor who depend on wetlands resources for The lack of consensus among the policy makers, planners, sustenance. In the last few months, numerous construction wetland managers and environmentalists has left this projects have been proposed in the wetland area of unique ecosystem in a state of peril. In the absence of which most contentious is a five-kilometre-long flyover a holistic management plan various projects have been piercing through the core of wetlands with 146 piers to be put forth in an ad-hoc manner that are threatening the constructed within the wetlands complex. survival of this unique ecosystem. The need of the hour is to prepare and implement a holistic wetlands management Two other-projects, an ecotourism-based project name plan in consultation with various stakeholders. East Kolkata Wetland Park and a centre to highlight local agriculture also challenge the ecological stability of the system. Progressive shift in the land use within EKW mostly by unauthorised constructions on agricultural land or wetlands, or filling in waterbodies with unmatched rapidity has been continuously reducing the overall CONTRIBUTED BY: Dr Ridhi Saluja (Technical Officer, WISA) capacity of the wetlands to recycle wastes and attenuate floods. During 1970-2011, the area under fish farms has declined by over 18%, a large chunk of which has been converted to built-up land.

Functioning of this exceptional resource-recovery system is primarily dependent on the inflows sourced through the Kolkata Municipal Corporation. Of the total flows, more than 95% is siphoned off from the wetland to reduce waterlogging within the Kolkata. Lack of an effective mechanism to address enhanced silt accumulation within the wetland complex has led to a reduction in depths of channel network feeding into the wetlands, and abandonment of fish farms. Moreover, the sewage supplied to the system has increased concentrations of heavy metals

14 SASTHAMKOTTA

Kollam’s lifeline needs a new lease of life Located in Kunnathur Taluk of Kollam District, Kerala is bestowed with a range of inland and coastal Sasthamkotta is the largest freshwater wetland of Kerala. wetlands which form the core of state’s ecological and Spanning 373 ha, the wetland is the principal source economic security. While accounting for only ~ 5% of of water for nearly 0.7 million residents of Kollam City the state’s geographical area, the 0.16 m ha wetlands and its suburbs. Sastha temple, from which the wetland linked with its 44 rivers and 587 km long coastline is believed to have derived its name is an important provide a range of ecosystem services through supporting religious and cultural centre for the region. The striking fisheries, agriculture, inland navigation, tourism, beauty of Sasthamkotta’s placid water surrounded by lush green hills has earned it the distinction of ‘Queen of groundwater recharge, regulating hydrological regimes Lakes’. Sasthamkotta receives water primarily in the form and as habitats of rich biological diversity. of monsoon rainfall and surface runoff from its relatively Three significant wetlands of the state, namely small direct drainage basin of 629 ha. Vembanad-Kol, Ashtamudi and Sasthamkotta have been During 1997 –2015 water withdrawal from Sasthamkotta designated as Wetlands of International Importance was on an average 2.48 times the inflow. The increased under Ramsar Convention. abstraction happens amidst a declining trend in South-

15 west monsoon rainfall, which accounts for 48% of total replaced by plantation, which now accounts for two-thirds rainfall. of its area. During 1988-2015, marshes and agriculture decreased by nearly 18% and 7% respectively, while Excessive sand mining within this region has led to plantation and settlements increased by nearly 17% and complete breakdown of this connection to the extent 11% respectively. Replacement of native species with that the two systems have become hydrologically Acacia and Eucalyptus trees has skewed the natural soil isolated. The sand layer between Sasthamkotta and River moisture regimes. Marshes around Sasthamkotta have Kallada, embedded within the alluvial sediments of Late been converted to agricultural fields. Quaternary age, played a major role in the hydrology of the entire region by acting as a conduit of freshwater flows Untreated waste discharge from shoreline settlements between the river and the wetland. and industries have increased. During non-monsoon periods, pockets of low dissolved oxygen are formed Construction of Velanthara embankment of the surface around Velanthara embankment, Bharanikavu Town and Sasthamkotta Town. Despite significant sanitation has limited flood pulse interactions with surface waters. coverage, the levels of coliforms (both total and faecal) Natural forests within the drainage basin have been all have been found to be beyond the permissible limit across all stretches of the lake. WISA PHOTO LIBRARY PHOTO WISA

16 Natural forests in Sasthamkotta catchment have been converted into plantations WISA PHOTO LIBRARY PHOTO WISA

Low primary production, low nutrient concentrations and hydrological fragmentation are some of the factors leading Key management issues to lower species richness in Sashamkotta, as compared Designation of Sasthamkotta as a Ramsar Site commits to adjoining marshes and Ashtamudi Estuary located in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the downstream. Within fish species there is a significant Government of India and Government of Kerala to take decline in the population of Horabagrus brachysoma measures for wetland wise use in order to maintain full and Etroplus suratensis, whereas Tachysurus malabaricus range of ecosystem services and biodiversity values in the and Macrobrachium are believed to have been nearly long run. This following management issues constrain eliminated. The already meagre fishery is under stress due achievement of these commitments. to unsustainable fishing practices as the harvest of broods and disturbance in breeding areas. Removal of natural High risk of adverse change in ecological character shoreline vegetation as Screw Pine is also a significant stressor, as their roots served as nesting grounds for Shrinkage in inundation regime, the progression of many fish species. Invasive macrophytes as Salvinia and shoreline towards a marsh dominated stage, and impaired Eichhornia crassipes are increasingly occurring along the connectivity with Kallada River are adversely impacting shorelines. ecological character. Frequent emergence of pockets of low water quality and stress on species habitats further accentuate the pace of change. At the same time, the Pollution Control Board notification of 2010. The abstraction of water from the wetland to meet water provisions of Wetlands (Conservation and Management) supply requirements have been on the increase, without Rules, 2017 are not fully complied with. The zone of consideration of ecosystem implications. influence as required to be specified under the rules has not been designated, nor a listing of regulated activities Increasing climate vulnerability done. Trends of declining south-west rainfall are also likely to accentuate ongoing changes, and increasing the risk of Monitoring and evaluation terresterialization, unless appropriate interventions to There is no system in place to comprehensively assess the maintain hydrological regimes are made. status of wetland, and the impact of various interventions. Along similar lines, effectiveness assessment of current management is also required to be able to enhance existing management arrangements.

Towards Integrated Management In line with wise use commitments, the Center for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM) formulated a management plan for Sasthamkotta in 2001, which was approved for implementation by MoEFCC with funding being made available to undertake catchment conservation and training and awareness programmes. However, a prolonged phase of drying in 2009-10, prompted the State Government to call for a revision of management plan, specifically taking into account hydrological aspects. The revised plan however was not approved by the Ministry and further clarifications sought on the proposed action plan. In 2012, the Department of Environment and Climate Change initiated a reformulation of the management plan, building on

Absence of any mechanism for ensuring sectoral the existing work, but ensuring conformity to MoEFCC coordination requirements as well as that of Ramsar Site management planning recommendations of the Convention. Wetlands While a number of sectoral programmes are being International South Asia and CWRDM were jointly implemented in the region around Sasthamkotta, there entrusted with the task of preparation of the management is no mechanism available to ensure cross-sectoral plan. coordination at the level of lake’s drainage basin to prevent any adverse change. The State Wetland Authority Kerala has been constituted only recently and the terms of Integrated management of Sasthamkotta requires strategies reference and action programme concerning Sasthamkotta that can ensure provisioning of societal benefits while and other priority wetlands is yet to be articulated. . ensuring the maintenance of its natural functioning and biodiversity. Given the role of hydrological processes in governing the ecological character of Sasthamkotta, there Weak enforcement of regulations is a need to mainstream its full range of ecosystem services While there are ample regulatory mechanisms in place, and biodiversity values in management of River Kallada their enforcement continues to be a challenge. Field Basin management, to achieve wise use outcomes. investigations indicated a rampant violation of Kerala The following strategies have been identified for restoring reclamation, discharge of untreated wastes and effluents, the ecological health of Sasthamkotta: solid waste dumping, construction of permanent nature and any activity likely to have adverse impact on Creating an institutional setup for integrated ecosystem. The 2010 Notification of Kerala Sate Pollution Control Board, prohibit a range of polluting activities management within 500 m periphery of the lake and agriculture Integrating management of Sasthamkotta requires a activities within 100 m periphery of the lake. dedicated institution for coordinating implementation of sectoral action plans, maintaining an overview of Mining of sand from alluvial plains of Kallada River wetland status and trends, promoting stakeholder has also been banned by the State Government. engagement and representing concern related to the The management plan envisages enforcement of the wetland in sectoral planning. It is envisaged to constitute aforementioned regulations with the identified agencies, a Sasthamkotta Management Unit under the aegis of State in order to maintain and improve ecological health of Wetlands Authority Kerala for integrated management Sasthamkotta. Notably, controlling pollution is urgently of Sasthamkotta. An important task of the unit will be required to slow down transition of Sasthamkotta towards to ensure mainstreaming of the full range of ecosystem a marsh dominated stage. services and biodiversity values of Sasthamkotta within the sectoral planning for agriculture, fisheries, rural development, tourism, forestry and wildlife and others. Integrating Sasthamkotta in Kallada River Basin management The ecosystem services of Sasthamkotta have a critical Stakeholder led management role in functioning of River Kallada. Conversely, land and In line with the wise use philosophy, implementation water related human activities within River Kallada Basin of management plan is envisaged to be stakeholder led. can have significant influence on ecological character Proactive measures would be taken to seek community of Sasthamkotta and associated wetlands. It is of utmost consent and endorsement for specific actions, involve importance to recognize the value of Sasthamkotta within communities in implementation and post intervention management of river basin and integrate these into water monitoring. The local self-governments would be the key sector planning institutions driving wetland management. In October 2017, the State Wetlands Authority reviewed Integrated wetland monitoring and assessment system the management plan in its meeting of the Steering to guide management Committee and endorsed for implementation. The management plan has been submitted to the MoEFCC for As a dynamic ecosystem, Sasthamkotta is prone to funding support. changes in response to a number of anthropogenic as well as natural drivers. Having a system to detect such Kerala was ravaged by the unprecedented floods in August changes, in particular, human induced adverse change in 2018. An analysis of flood inundation maps reveals that ecological character, is critical for success of management. parts of landscape wherein wetlands were extensively Equally important is the need to periodically assess converted, were the ones to suffer maximum damages. As the effectiveness of management in terms of ability to measures of urban reconstruction and flood risk reduction achieve wise use with broad stakeholder participation. An are being identified and implemented for Kerala, it is integrated wetland inventory assessment and monitoring essential that the role of wetlands is brought to fore, and system is therefore proposed to be put in place to address integrated as “ecosystem-based solutions”. Kerala leads the diverse information needs for managing Sasthamkotta the country in capacity building and empowering of and undertake mid-course correction if any. A research Panchayat Raj Institutions; these need to be capacitated on strategy to address the gaps in existing knowledgebase “ecosystem-based solutions”. and assess future risks will form an integral part of the system. It is proposed that CWRDM is mandated to manage the monitoring system with systematic reporting to Sasthamkotta Management Unit. CONTRIBUTED BY: Dr Ritesh Kumar (Conservation Programme Manager, WISA) Harmonizing water abstraction with ecological condition Hydrological assessments underline the need to link any water abstraction with ecological condition of the Sasthamkotta, particularly, stability of its hydrological regimes. It is therefore proposed to link water abstraction from Sasthamkotta to the quantum of rainfall received. The management plan also includes a proposal for alternate water supply to Kollam City, as reduction in water off-take in Sasthamkotta will result in reduced water availability to the city.

Enforcing regulation The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 provide the necessary regulatory framework for management of Sasthamkotta as it is designated as a Ramsar Site. The Rules require clear demarcation of wetland boundary and its zone of influence, and prohibiting a number of detrimental activities including RAMSAR CoP 13 Report back from Dubai Recommended actions include enhancing the network E very three years, of Ramsar Sites and other wetlands protected areas, representatives of the integrating wetlands into planning and policy making of governments of each post 2015 development agenda, strengthening legal and of the Contracting policy arrangements, integrating diverse perspectives Parties to the Ramsar into wetlands management, applying incentives for Convention meet as the Conference of the Contracting communities and business and improving overall Parties (COP), to agree on a work programme and knowledgebase on wetlands extent. The full report can budgetary arrangements for the next triennium and be downloaded from the Ramsar Convention website at consider guidance on a range of ongoing and emerging the link https://www.global-wetland-outlook.ramsar.org/ environmental issues. The thirteenth meeting of CoP was outlook. held from 22-29 October 2018, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Over 1360 participants representing 143 of the 170 parties to the Convention, as well as the International Improving the Effectiveness of Organization Partners (IOPs) of the Ramsar Convention, the Convention UN agencies, intergovernmental organisations and non- The Conference had a rather heavy start with governmental organisations attended the meeting. The consideration of two resolutions asking major shifts theme of the CoP was ‘Wetlands for a Sustainable Urban in Ramsar Convention governance, towards increasing Future’ drawing attention to the crucial role wetlands play the role of Contracting Parties and their nominees in is ensuring sustainable urbanization. decision making processes. The United States introduced the proposal to retire multiple groups. Switzerland Wetland City Accredition presented a draft resolution to restore the strategic role In line with the CoP theme, the first ever designation of of the Standing Committee in substantive matters, and Ramsar Wetlands Cities took place in the Dubai meeting. reduce the focus on procedural issues. The two resolutions The accreditation follows from CoP X (2015) Resolution were discussed at length in the contact groups. Several of recognising cities with a special designation to parties expressed unease on the fleeting changes and encourage conservation and wise use of urban and peri- dismantling the current structure without clarity on urban wetlands. Twenty three applications were received benefits, representation issues and overall transition of which 18 were finally recommended, and mayors and costs. As a way forward, the parties agreed to consider municipal authorities given accreditation certificates the proposal in the next meeting and agreed to establish at the meeting. The cities include: Changde, China; an effectiveness working group. The working group has Changshu, China; Dongying, China; Haerbin, China; been tasked with reviewing the existing governance Haikou, China; Amiens, France; Courteranges, France; structure, and recommend revisions that would further Pont Audemer, France; Saint Omer, France; Lakes by Tata, enhance effectiveness, including cost-effectiveness, and Hungary; Changnyeong, Republic of Korea; Inje, Republic recommend implementation strategy. of Korea; Jeju, Republic of Korea; Suncheon, Republic of Korea; Mitsinjo, Madagascar; Colombo, Sri Lanka; and The Status of Ramsar Sites Ghar el Melh, Tunisia. Wetlands designated to the List of Wetlands of International Importance forms an essential element of The Global Wetlands Outlook Convention implementation. With over 2,300 designated The CoP also marked the release of the first of its kind wetlands, the network of Ramsar Sites by far represents assessment of status and trends in wetlands in the form the most extensive network of protected areas designated of Global Wetlands Outlook 2018 report. The report for management purposes. Yet, the management of Ramsar reaffirmed the rapid rate of loss of natural wetlands – Sites has been a consistent challenge for various reasons, natural inland and coastal/marine wetlands declined by and the Contracting Parties have been adopting suite of nearly 35% during 1970 and 2015, almost three times resolutions at each CoP to address these. the rate of known forest loss. In contrast, human made At Dubai, the parties adopted a resolution on the status of wetlands, largely reservoirs and rice paddy, almost Ramsar sites, thus agreeing to regular updation of Ramsar doubled over this period. The increase in human made Information Sheets, and the value of online information. wetlands has not compensated the losses in natural Notably, the Ramsar Information Sheets which provide wetlands. As a result, since 1970, nearly one quarter the status and trends in the Ramsar Sites have pending of wetlands dependent species are threatened with updates from as many as 69% of the sites. A resolution extinction, particularly within the on Ramsar Advisory Mission (proposed by Burkina Faso) tropics. Drainage and conversion, calling for an increased number of such missions was pollution, the introduction of invasive adopted so that Contracting Parties could gain access to species, extraction activities, and other technical advice for addressing degradation of sites listed actions affecting the water quantity under Montreux Record (a list of Ramsar Sites undergoing and frequency of flooding have been or having undergone an adverse change in their ecological cited in the report as the major direct character). Parties also adopted a resolution on Ramsar drivers of change. These are in turn Regional Initiatives as a mechanism for strengthening influenced by indirect drivers, related capacity and enhancing outreach on wetlands, and to the supply of energy, food, fiber, furthering the implementation of the Ramsar Convention infrastructure, tourism and recreation. Strategic Plan. United Arab Emirates’ proposal for formal recognition international cooperation mechanisms. A resolution on of World Wetlands Day by the United Nations General enhanced conservation of sea turtle breeding, feeding, and Assembly received support from all member countries. nursery areas, and the designation of key areas as Ramsar Sites (proposed by France and Senegal) was adopted. The resolution on rapid assessment of wetlands ecosystem services to assist in management planning (proposed China drew attention to the role of small wetlands in by South Korea) further enhances the suite of technical delivering ecosystem services, and presented a draft guidance on wetlands management planning. resolution for their conservation and management, acknowledging that further guidance is required for laying down specific criteria for small wetlands. Resolutions on Advancing agendas related to according priority attention to wetlands of arctic and sub- arctic region (moved by Sweden) and Wetlands of West wetlands and climate change Asia (moved by Iraq) were also adopted. In recent years, climate change has been a significant theme of resolutions adopted by the CoP, and the trend continued in this meeting as well. Specific attention was The Human Dimensions of drawn on carbon sequestered by coastal wetlands (blue Wetlands Management carbon) and peatlands. The wetland wise use principle, which is at the core The Contracting Parties adopted Australia’s proposal of the Convention, recognises that restricting wetland to promote conservation, restoration and sustainable loss and degradation requires incorporation of linkages management of coastal blue carbon ecosystems, despite between people and wetlands, and thereby emphasises that initial debates on lack of a single adopted definition of human use of these ecosystems on a sustainable basis is usage of the term ‘blue carbon’. The resolution encourages compatible with conservation. The CoP has increasingly parties with coastal blue carbon ecosystems within been considering human dimensions of wetlands their territories to integrate carbon fluxes related to management by adopting resolutions enabling wise use. these ecosystems within the national greenhouse gas In CoP 13, the agenda was further progressed by the inventories. Parties also agreed to prevent degradation of adoption of a resolution on gender and wetlands, proposed these ecosystems as part of climate change mitigation and by Colombia. The resolution encourages Contracting adaptation measures. Parties in mainstreaming a gender perspective in the implementation of the Convention. The peatland conservation agenda within the Convention was further bolstered by the adoption of two resolutions Senegal proposed a draft resolution on wetlands, peace (moved by the European Union). The first of these calls and human security. The resolution built on the fact that for the restoration of degraded peatlands for achieving degradation of wetlands often formed the root cause of climate change mitigation and adaptation, and is largely human conflict in several areas, and thus restoration a reaffirmation of similar resolutions adopted in the past and management of wetlands needed to be considered conferences. The resolution on guidance for identifying within the part of solutions for addressing human security peatlands as potential Ramsar Sites for global climate issues. Despite extended discussions, the parties could not change regulation speaks to embedding peatlands within reach consensus on the draft, and finally, the resolution Ramsar Site designation criteria. was withdrawn. Senegal would pursue the matter at the forthcoming meeting of the Standing Committee. The resolution on sustainable urbanisation, climate change and wetlands (proposed by UAE) brings to fore the role urban and peri-urban wetlands in supporting climate India at the CoP change mitigation and adaptation in urban spaces. Tunisia The Indian delegation was led by Mr A K Jain, Additional led resolution on cultural values, indigenous peoples and Secretary, MoEFCC. Wetlands International South local communities, and climate change mitigation and Asia worked closely with the Ministry to shape up adaptation in wetlands emphasises on human dimensions, the national position on the various draft resolutions. particularly those of indigenous and local communities in Intervention by the India were formally recorded on eight developing climate change solutions. draft resolutions, pertaining to enhancing Convention’s effectiveness, rapid assessment of wetlands ecosystem services, gender and wetlands, agriculture in wetlands, Wetlands and Agriculture conservation and wise use of intertidal wetlands, Agriculture by far remains one of the most significant conservation and management of small and micro drivers of wetlands degradation, yet the agenda on wetlands, and enhanced protection and management of agriculture wetlands interactions has seen a cautioned sea turtle breeding, feeding and nursery areas. Acting approach by the Contracting Parties. Food security in unison, Australia, India and Uruguay pressed on the concerns and agriculture subsidies have been very major Contracting Parties to delete references related to removal departure elements. While some success was made in of perverse subsidies endangering wetlands, on the basis the past by recognition of rice paddies as wetlands, that these were matters of sovereign decisions. On the and adoption of guidelines on sustainable agriculture – resolution on intertidal wetlands, India pointed out that wetlands interactions, minimal progress on an overall has mangrove plantation should not encroach upon mudflats been made. During the Dubai CoP, the issue resurfaced and other coastal wetlands, which have significant habitat with a draft resolution on the topic by the Czech Republic. values of their own. Other intervention were majorly The contracting parties reaffirmed the need to promote directed at the Scientific and Technical Review Panel, sustainable agriculture practices that secured wetland seeking scientific assessments and guidance on using ecological character. ecosystem services assessment to detect long term changes Specific Wetlands Habitats in wetlands’ ecological character, creating an inventory The Philippines introduced the draft resolution on of gender tools, developing criteria for small wetlands, conservation and wise use of intertidal wetlands and and developing new methods for conservation of turtle ecologically associated habitats aimed at strengthening habitats. Dr Sidharth Kaul (President, WISA) and Mr Seung Oh Suh (Executive Director, RRCEA) exchanging MoU

Conclusion In summary, the Conference of Parties saw advancement of agendas related to wetlands and climate change and management of habitats of high ecological significance. The Global Wetlands Outlook presents a very sobering picture of international and national efforts of wetlands conservation. With over three hundred recommendations and resolutions adopted in the various CoP meetings thus far, implementation rather than further scientific WISA PHOTO LIBRARY WISA PHOTO advice is acting as the real barrier. The release of Global Wetlands Outlook Side Event on Promoting Wise and regional outlooks give credence to the fact that the Use of Wetlands in South Asia overall information on status and trends on wetlands Wetlands within South Asia region bear several has improved over a period, including information on commonalities regarding ecological connectivity, water the drivers of change. The need of the hour, therefore, and land management regimes governing their status and is to translate the recommendations into positive and development contexts. Significant opportunities exist affirmative actions for wetlands conservation. The within the region for sharing lessons, experiences and role of mechanisms as Ramsar Advisory Missions and challenges in wetlands management, so that management Ramsar Regional Centers acquires higher prominence in and governance solutions tailored to the regional context enabling better monitoring of Ramsar Sites and providing could be evolved. handholding support to wetlands managers. Wetlands International South Asia organised a side event At national level, several actions emerge from the on promoting wise of wetlands in South Asia to identify meeting. A commitment has been made to update all opportunities for regional collaboration and exchange. pending Ramsar Information Sheets by the next Standing The first panel discussion within the National Focal Committee meeting. This includes reporting on the Points of India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and status of two sites placed on Montreux Record (namely Myanmar surmised that the countries within the region Loktak and Keoladeo National Park). The commitment had established national programmes seeking to strike a to implement the Ramsar Strategic Plan 2016-24 would balance between biodiversity conservation outcomes and need to be backed up with developing national targets and meeting livelihood needs of the dependent communities. aligning the same with implementation of the national However, management approaches were inadequate to programmes. The various technical resolutions would address increasing fragmentation of hydrological regimes, need to be embedded with site management planning and intensifying land and water use practices and growing implementation, in collaboration with state governments. dependence on wetlands resources for livelihoods. New advancements in wetlands inventorying and mapping The panel endorsed the idea of a regional platform for would be brought in the implementation of the externally supporting the exchange of knowledge and management aided projects, to benefit wetlands managers and state practices. The second panel, constituting representatives governments. of Ramsar Regional Center East Asia, International Water By the next CoP, the Ramsar Convention will turn fifty Management Institute and Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, years. As a pre-Rio multi-lateral environmental agreement, highlighted the enabling role of the international NGOs Ramsar is well-considered as a harbinger of integrated in facilitating exchange and building capacity of wetlands thinking on water in general and wetlands in particular. managers in the application of latest knowledge and As water is increasingly becoming a contested resource, scientific advice. Ramsar has a unique opportunity to promote the role During the side event, Wetlands International South of wetlands as providers of water. However to take this Asia and Ramsar Regional Center East Asia signed a role, the Convention would need to get over the internal Memorandum of Understanding to promote wise use of reorganization challenges as quickly as possible and wetlands in South Asia through capacity development, reaffirm a strong technical agenda, backed by sound and supporting application of recent scientific and science and political support of the Contracting Parties. technical advancements in the management of wetlands. The MoU was signed by Dr Sidharth Kaul (President, Wetlands International South Asia) and Mr Seung Oh Suh CONTRIBUTED BY: Dr Ritesh Kumar (Conservation Programme (Executive Director, Ramsar Regional Center East Asia, Manager, WISA) South Korea). Ecosystem Services Shared Value Assessment The perceptions, attitudes and preferences humans hold for ecosystem services are important elements TOOLS for engendering changes in the way’s stakeholders engage with management of wetlands. In an attempt to Rapid assessment of wetland understand behavioural dimensions of ecosystem services for integration in wetland management planning and ecosystem services decision making, an Ecosystem Services Shared Value To achieve wise use of wetlands the Ramsar Convention Assessment (ESSVA) tool developed by International calls upon wetland managers to recognise important Lake Environment Committee (ILEC) was piloted during functions and multiple values of wetlands ensuring that the year under Partners for Resilience (PfR) programme their role is reflected and contributes to the global policy for assessing stakeholder perceptions, attitudes and processes such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable preferences for wetland ecosystem services. Development, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Paris Agreement on climate change. To achieve the mission of the Ramsar Convention as laid The tool uses a structured questionnaire to engage with out by the Strategic Plan 2016-2024, a priority area of stakeholders in discussion regarding management of focus recognises the need to enhance information about ecosystem services. Behavioural data is elicited through ecosystem functions and the ecosystem services that a structured questionnaire having seven sections. The wetlands provide to people and nature. first two sections contain questions on the demographic and socio-economic data aspects of the household, At the 13th Ramsar Conference of Parties meeting at and relationship with the wetland. The third section Dubai, a resolution on rapid assessment of wetlands has questions on identification and ranking of various ecosystem services was adopted. The resolution calls upon ecosystem services, considered relevant by the responding contracting parties to synergize the conventions language households. The causes and impacts of impairment of with other environmental agreements and increase efforts ecosystem functions are assessed next, both in terms of to communicate values of ecosystem services in other human health, cultural values and economic consequences. sectors, plans, regulation and advocate for integration Questions on responsibilities and ownership are included within land use plans and sectoral policies. in the fifth section, followed by section on role in basin governance and possible improvement. The questionnaire Time, resources, access, capacity and participation of uses pictures depicting various options, thus enabling local communities have limited wetland management the respondent to relate each choice to a visual state. practitioners attempts to recognise the functions and A primary purpose of the questionnaire is to engage include the multiple benefits of wetlands ecosystem the stakeholder in discussions regarding management services within policies and planning. To overcome such of ecosystem services, from the respondent’s frame of limitations and barriers for including the multiple value reference. of wetland ecosystem services into decision making and planning, Ramsar Convention has developed an Tampara, a freshwater wetlandson the east coast of approach “rapid assessment of wetland ecosystem services” Odisha State was selected as a demonstration site, wherein (RAWES) as an example to facilitate assessment of wetland Wetlands International South Asia is formulating an ecosystem services which are less time intensive, with integrated management plan for wetland wise use. The limited resources and can be applied to different spatial wetland, spanning 409 ha within a basin of 2,200 ha, is the scales. primary source of water for over 25,000 households living in Chattarpur Municipality, and irrigation in and around. The approach is simple to apply and requires only one-two The lake is also an important source of fish, and aquatic persons to conduct the assessment which can typically aromatic Pandanus, sustaining livelihoods of over 700 take less than two hours. The approach puts the onus on households. the assessor to define the wetland but asks the assessor to define the condition of the wetland at the time due to the Overall, 1% of the basin population living within dynamic nature of a wetland. eight of the 15 basin villages were selected for ESSVA questionnaire survey. The households were selected based The RAWES approach is flexible allowing users to assess on stratified random sampling to ensure an appropriate entire wetlands or specific habitats within wetlands and representation of stakeholder occupations, geographical modify the list of ecosystem services as found appropriate. location and asset ownership. The questionnaire was The method encourages interaction with stakeholders so developed through focal group discussions in three that assessments are informed by local perspectives and villages conducted during February 2018, and further indigenous knowledge ensuring all services are recognised. modified through pilot testing in 30 households. The Through a simple training the assessor s encouraged to surveys were conducted during March – April 2018 by a recognize a set of ecosystem services and assign degrees of group of trained surveyors. importance. The tool can be usefully applied by managers while formulating management plans or developing The communities identified 19 ecosystem services (6 communication and education products. RAWES does provisioning 6 regulating and 7 cultural services) as being not replace the need for comprehensive biophysical, derived from the wetland. When eliciting as a group, the socioeconomic and institutional assessments required to respondents ascribed statistically significant higher values for a fuller assessment of status and trends in wetlands for 5 of the 6 provisioning services. Similarly, differences ecosystem services. in mean scores for disaster risk reduction functions and select cultural services (religious values, aesthetic values, and education values) were statistically significant. The communities identified 19 ecosystem services (6 in mean scores for disaster risk reduction functions and provisioning 6 regulating and 7 cultural services) as being select cultural services (religious values, aesthetic values, derived from the wetland. When eliciting as a group, the and education values) were statistically significant. respondents ascribed statistically significant higher values for 5 of the 6 provisioning services. Similarly, differences

RAPID ASSESSMENT OF WETLAND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES FIELD ASSESSMENT SHEET

How important? Wetland name: ++ Potential Significant positive benefit GPS + Potential Positive benefit coordinates: 0 Negligible benefit Date : - Potential Negative benefit -- Potential Significant negative benefit Assessors : ? Gaps in evidence

Scale of benefit How important? Describe benefit Local Regional Global Fresh water Food Fuel

ces Fibre vi Genetic resources Natural medicines or

oning ser oning pharmaceuticals

visi Ornamental resources Pro Clay, mineral, aggregate harvesting Energy harvesting from natural air and water flows

Air quality regulation Local climate regulation Global climate regulation Water regulation

ces Flood hazard regulation vi Storm hazard regulation ry ser ry Pest regulation ato

gul Disease regulation – human

Re Disease regulation – livestock Erosion regulation Water purification Pollination Salinity regulation Fire regulation Noise and visual buffering

Cultural heritage Recreation and tourism

ces Aesthetic value vi

ser Spiritual and religious value al Inspiration value

Cultur Social relation Educational and research Soil formation

ces Primary production vi Nutrient cycling Water recycling Provision of habitat upporting ser upporting S Notes : 24 Factor analysis of demographic, socioeconomic and environmental relationship data led to identification of eight variables which accounted for 68% variability within the data. Direct use of wetland and location within basin accounted for 19% of variance, occupation and distance from the wetlnad accounted for 18% of the variance, gender and ecosystem awareness 17% of the variance and age and income explained 14% of the variance. The rankings ascribed to provisioning services mapped with the occupation categories (a fisher ranked fishing as the highest and a farmer to the provision of water for irrigation). However, communities which had a lesser direct dependence on the wetlands for livelihoods (such as business owners, wage labourers and private sector employees) ranked the regulating and cultural services as a highest preference.

Spatial location was observed to have a distinct influence on ecosystem service preferences. Awareness of ecosystem services amongst upstream communities was higher in the upstream reaches as compared with downstream reaches (99% significance). In general, the scores for provisioning and regulating services were higher for the communities located in the downstream, whereas the scores for cultural services were comparable. Scores ascribed to provisioning and regulating services by communities living within 500 meter from the lake shoreline than those living further away. While all communities ranked the impact from wetland degradation on their health and economy to be high, the scores of the upstream communities were higher. The upstream communities also ascribed the possibility of improvement of wetlands ecosystem health to the higher than the downstream communities. Regarding roles in the management of wetland, communities having a direct dependence on the wetland raked their role as an individual to be higher as compared to that of the municipality or the state and central government. Communities with lesser direct dependence on wetlands (those engaged in businesses and private service) felt that the state government had a major role to play in ensuring that wetland ecosystem services are sustained. Technocratic and expert-driven assessments of ecosystem services are likely to render a simplistic view of ecosystem services, without indicating underlying social factors which have a bearing on the perceptions, preferences and attitudes towards ecosystem services. Gaining such a nuanced understanding is crucial to engage communities systematically in management for wise use of wetlands. Through the use of tools such as ESSVA, it is possible to dive deeper into factors which define the relationship communities have with wetland ecosystem services and use the assessment outcomes to develop a shared view of ecosystem services, trends therein, and possible restoration options.

CONTRIBUTED BY: Dushyant Mohil (Project Manager, WISA)

25 SANNE HOGESTEEGER SANNE

26 WORLD WETLANDS DAY 2019 Wetlands: The key to coping with Climate Change February 2 is World Wetlands Day. This day marks meeting. Specific recommendations include: the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands and is an opportune moment for promoting, creating awareness and • Wise management of wetlands to reduce multiple ensuring positive actions for the conservation of wetlands. pressures they face and thereby increase resilience to In the Ramsar’s 13th Conference of Parties meeting, a climate change, and to take advantage of significant resolution was adopted for recognition of this day by the opportunities to use wetlands wisely as a response United Nations General Assembly. option to reduce the impacts of climate change The 2019 theme for World Wetlands Day is ‘Wetlands and • Ensure that necessary safeguards and mechanisms are Climate Change’. The theme brings to fore the essential in place to maintain ecological character of wetlands, role wetlands have in mitigating climate change as well as particularly with respect to water allocation for wetlands assisting humanity to adapt to the climate change impacts. ecosystems Recent climate change assessments predict stresses • Promote restoration of wetlands as an important aspect on wetlands, through atmospheric and sea surface of policy related to wetlands temperature increase, changes in hydrology and sea- level rise, and deepening of direct and indirect drivers of • Promote integrated coordination in developing and degradation. Yet wetlands have a crucial role in buffering implementing national policies related to water society against the impacts of climate change through their management, energy production, agriculture and human role in the carbon cycle, climate adaptation and resilience. health in order to ensure that sectoral objectives are Conservation and wise-use of wetlands and preventing mutually supportive in addressing the likely negative loss and degradation of these ecosystems is essential in impacts of climate change meeting climate goals, yet is insufficiently considered in • Pay attention to the potential of incentive measures and climate policy and planning processes. funding mechanisms under climate change adaptation and mitigation activities to support sustainable use Wetlands help in the mitigation of climate change by and restoration of wetlands as well as support local acting as natural carbon sinks. They are touted to contain livelihoods and contribute to poverty eradication. 12% of the global carbon pool and play an important role in the global carbon cycle. Coastal wetlands – mangroves, tidal mudflats, seagrass beds, famed as “blue carbon Wetlands International South Asia shall be organizing a ecosystems” act as significant carbon sinks. Seagrass beds keynote lecture and public seminar to mark the occasion. sequester around 10 per cent of all ocean sequestered Please watch our website https://south-asia.wetlands.org carbon annually. Coastal wetlands have an essential role for further details on the event. in reducing the vulnerability of communities to rising seas and coastal hazards, through their role in sediment capture, vertical accretion, erosion reduction and wave attenuation. CONTRIBUTED BY: Nehha Sharma (Technical Officer, WISA) It is also pertinent to ensure that wetlands are not subject to risks of ‘maladaptation’ – adaptation practices and interventions in one sector leading to enhanced vulnerability for other. For example, increasing water storage through the construction of more hydraulic structures may severely alter the natural hydrological regime of wetlands, and enhance their vulnerability. It is therefore pertinent that adaptation options account for the full range of wetlands ecosystem services, and not just ones which are related to carbon or water. A key direction in supporting the integration of wetlands in climate change responses is provided in Ramsar Convention Resolution X.24 on Climate Change and Wetlands adopted at the tenth Contracting Parties

27 WE ARE NOT POWERLESS AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE.

STOP DRAINING WETLANDS

28 NEWS The wetlands of Colombo provide a range of ecosystem services and our vital in protection from floods holding up over 39% of storm water. The wetland park within CWC Colombo accredited as serves as good examples of inclusivity and participation of local communities. According to the wetland management wetland city by Ramsar strategy of CWC, over 87% of all the wetland areas currently provide food to the citizens of Colombo. Efforts Convention by the government and other stakeholders have led to a number of policies, legislation and regulatory instruments Colombo is recognised now as wetland city by the Ramsar that support wetland conservation and are a testament Convention. Eighteen cities from seven countries – China, to the efforts taken in safeguarding the integrity of France, Hungary, Madagascar, South Korea, Sri Lanka and the wetlands. CWC is exemplary wetland management Tunisia – received the prestigious accreditation during a strategy where wetlands are integrated within development boisterous ceremony at the 13th Conference of the Parties practices. Meeting of the Ramsar Convention (COP13) in Dubai. The Wetland City Accreditation scheme encourages cities in close proximity to and dependent on wetlands – especially designated Ramsar Wetlands of International A Ramsar regional Importance – to promote the conservation and wise use of urban and peri-urban wetlands, as well as sustainable initiative for Indo-Burma socio-economic benefits for local people. Colombo Wetland Complex (CWC) comprises several Region contiguous wetland areas spreading over 1,900 ha. The Indo Burma Ramsar Regional Initiative (IBRRI) Wetlands of Beddagna, Thalawatugoda, Kimbulawela, is a new initiative of the Ramsar Convention Madiwela, Kolonnawa, Crow Island, Talangama, and Beira to support the effective implementation of Ramsar of the CWC represent freshwater marshes, lakes and paddy Strategic Plan in five lower Mekong countries Cambodia, fields, prominant features of the complex. Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. UNSPLASH.COM

Wetlands are a natural buffer for the City of Colombo 29 The regional initiative aims to: • promote science and technical cooperation for research on management and wise use of wetlands Regional workshops to • develop management plans and regulatory/management tools for wetlands build capacities of Indian • promote regional dialogues on wetland conservation policy wetlands managers • support capacity building initiatives by developing Wetlands management cuts across disciplines, sectors and training and educational programmes and raising stakeholders. Building the capacity of wetlands managers awareness on wetlands. is therefore crucial for ensuring that wetlands are managed sustainably. Wetlands International South Asia is working with the Wetlands Division of the Ministry The Strategic Plan for the Regional Initiative for 2019- of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to train 2024, developed as an outcome of Annual Meeting held government officials entrusted with the management of in August 2018, is structured along five objectives, wetlands in application of best practices and integrated namely: a) Facilitate and promote wetland knowledge and approaches. experience sharing, b) Support integrated management of Ramsar Sites and other wetlands and ensure conservation Wetlands Division of the Ministry of Environment, Forest of key wetland species in the region, c) Assist with the and Climate Change is conducting regional capacity development and/or strengthening and implementation development workshop for wetland managers across of policy framework taking into account wetland different states in India. Three such workshops have been management and conservation across sectors at all levels, conducted during 2018 for the states of the eastern region d) Support wetland communication, capacity building, (held at Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata) education, participation and awareness, and e) Ensure north-east (held at Sikkim) and south (held at sound and sustainable governance and management of the Coimbatore). These workshops are significant engagement Regional Initiative. and learning opportunities for wetland managers and policy planners. Wetlands International South Asia is a member of the technical committee of the initiative, and has assisted in development of the strategic plan.

Dr Balachandran (BNHS), Dr Ritesh Kumar (WISA), Ms Manju Pandey (Joint Secretary, MoEFCC) and Dr Ajit Pattnaik (Vice President, WISA) at Tsomgo, Sikkim during regional workshop. 30 Six objectives of the action plan are: a) Halt and reverse India adopts a national decline of migratory birds; b) Reduce pressure on critical habitats by management based on landscape approaches; plan for Central Asian c) Develop capacity at multiple levels to anticipate and avoid threats to habitats and species undergoing long- Flyway term decline; d) Improve database and decision-support systems to underpin science-based conservation of species In 2005, Wetlands International had supported and management of habitats; e) Sensitize stakeholders to organisation of a meeting of range countries to endorse take collaborative actions on securing habitats and species; the proposed Central Asian Flyway Action Plan for and, f) Support trans-boundary co-operation to secure conservation of migratory waterbirds and their habitats. migratory bird species and habitats in range countries. One of the committed actions was the development of national action plans by the range countries. In 2018, the The action plan was adopted by the Ministry of Ministry revisited its engagement in the Convention on Environment, Forest and Climate Change in September Migratory Species and offered to host the 13th Conference 2018, and shall be implemented over 2018-2023. Wetlands of Parties meeting in India. As a part of various measures, International South Asia shall continue to support the it was also decided to draft a National Action Plan for the implementation of the action plan, particularly in the Central Asian Flyway. areas of wetlands management planning using landscape approaches, and capacity development of wetlands and Wetlands International South Asia was part of a three- wildlife managers. member committee set up by the MoEFCC to draft the National Action Plan. The long-term goal of the National Action Plan is to arrest population decline and secure habitats of migratory bird species. In short-term, the action plan seeks to halt the downward trends in declining meta-populations and maintain stable or increasing trends for healthy populations by 2027.

31 Urban wetlands make cities liveable

Filter and improve Provide livelihood water quality Spaces for recreation opportunities and education

Buffer impact of floods and Biodiversity storm surges habitats

Improve air quality and abate heat islands

Replenish groundwater

Urban wetlands make cities vibrant

Wetlands International South Asia

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